BERWYN – After several community members were arrested by ICE agents in Chicago, Cicero, and Berwyn, while others were threatened with weapons, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“I am horrified at the excessive use of force displayed by ICE agents in my community this week and over the past month. Every day, community advocates share stories of mothers taken away from their children, protestors pepper sprayed, and other reckless treatments from federal agents. This week, images were released of an agent pointing an assault weapon at an unarmed civilian. These actions demonstrate a gross disregard for the safety of our residents. This is not normal, and is deeply alarming.

“Let me be clear—no one should be violently stripped from their home or car because of the color of their skin or the language they speak. It is appalling that the federal administration has given their stamp of approval on these dehumanizing and discriminatory tactics. Under these orders, thousands of Latinos across the city now feel unsafe to go to work, drop their kids off at school, and attend to their basic human needs. This is unacceptable.

“America was founded to be a land where people of diverse backgrounds could freely practice their religion, celebrate their cultural heritage, and speak out against injustice. Now more than ever, it is important for us to use our 1^st amendment rights to call out actions our government have taken that are immoral. The way ICE agents are treating detainees and unarmed civilians is not right. I will continue to provide transparency and updated information on developing situations, as well as condemn the weaponization of ICE agents on our neighbors. I stand with my immigrant neighbors, and will never stop fighting for you.”